Know Thyself

“Know Thyself” is a saying that has been around since the Greeks wore tunics, but a saying that still resonates true today, and maybe could even be your best weapon in nabbing your dream job.

According to writer David DeJean, knowing your own work style and having a vocabulary for thinking and talking it is important. One way of getting a feel for your personality, DeJean suggests, is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI isn’t a test as much as it’s an indicator of how your personality affects the things that you do.

While I would personally not suggest becoming a gentleman farmer just because the MBTI indicates that this career would suit you, the MBTI would help you narrow your choices to find something that you would mesh well with. Bob McAlpine, president of Type Resources says, “any person can be successful at any job, yet some people are more comfortable – have a more positive experience – at one job than another. If we look at the mental processes used in the job and the processes preferred by the person, there's a high correlation. We're not talking skill, but if interests match requirements, people are more successful.”